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<b><i>The latest from our man in Iraq.</i></b><br>
<br />

<b><i>[ People keep asking what we have heard from Chris, so here you go
--&nbsp; The letter we received on April 30th. ]</i></b><br />

<img src="http://www.haslups.com/ChrisLetter/top.jpg"><br />

<img src="http://www.haslups.com/ChrisLetter/bot.jpg" align="left">

Hullo Parents,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; So, this cadence above actually is not true.&nbsp; Our
coffee does not taste like terpentine.&nbsp; Out here it tastes like
mold.&nbsp; The plastic thermites that hold the coffee absorb
tastes.&nbsp; I usually no longer drink black coffee.&nbsp; Sugar and
whitener cover the taste well enough.<br />

&nbsp;&nbsp; Tonight is the president's speech about what he is
planning to do.&nbsp; We are fairly sure what this will entail but I am
getting up at 3:30 to hear it anyway.<br />

&nbsp;&nbsp; I have recieved the box of books you sent me.&nbsp; I have
gotten through the first two Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser books.&nbsp; I
also got the form for the physical from Atlanta.&nbsp; I am starting to
lean towards Ringling.&nbsp; As you stated it is probably a better
school.<br />

&nbsp;&nbsp; We have recieved two media persons: A journalist and a
photographer.&nbsp; The photographer is fun to watch.&nbsp; He runs
around trying to get "the shot."&nbsp; He has taken pictures of people
doing pushups, sleeping, playing football and even of some playing
golf.&nbsp; A sargeant recieved a golf club in the mail and uses an
American flag to mark the hole.&nbsp; It should be a fun picture.&nbsp;
I like that the photographer is so enthusiastic about his job.&nbsp;
They are from the AP United Press (I think) so you can keep an eye out
for them.<br />

&nbsp;&nbsp; Earlier this week I had KP.&nbsp; That has to be one of
the worst details in the Army.&nbsp; After dinner I washed dishes until
my hands pruned and hurt.&nbsp; <br />

&nbsp;&nbsp; I almost got in trouble there.&nbsp; Lunch is MREs so I
had no work.&nbsp; I told everyone in sight I was going to visit my
friend in suport.&nbsp; I am not often by headquarters so I don't see
my roommate, Dan, often.&nbsp; I couldn't find a sargeant but I thought
I was good anyway.&nbsp; Well, a shipment came in that needed to be
downloaded and noone seemed to know where I was.&nbsp; I did tell
them.&nbsp; I think they were frightened that they would be yelled at
for knowing.&nbsp; I was heckled for the rest of the day but no real
trouble.&nbsp; Only bad thing was my company forgot to pick me
up.&nbsp; One of the cooks had to drive me back.<br />

&nbsp;&nbsp; Funny news story last week: The Brits were training near
the border.&nbsp; On hearing the gun shots, Iraq forces advanced and
tried to surrender.&nbsp; In response to this brazen move the Brits
waved their arms and yelled "Go Back.&nbsp; Not Yet."&nbsp; Methinks
this is a good sign.&nbsp; We will see.<br />

&nbsp;&nbsp; I really don't have much to say.&nbsp; We are starting to
get the stereotypical desert heat.&nbsp; Other than my killer farmer's
tan I am aquiring, I have no more news.<br />

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
I love Yall,<br />

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Chris<br />

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<b><i>Transcriber's notes:&nbsp; </i></b><br />
<b><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The letter is not
dated.&nbsp; The postmark on the envelope is April 9th but the events
he is describing suggest it was written March 19th.&nbsp; (Immediately
before the start of the war.)</i></b><br />

<b><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I have tried to
preserve the original spelling (since Chris has many fans of his
creative spelling) but he seems to be losing some of his talent for
misspelling things that other people would never attempt to misspell.</i></b><br />
<b><i>&nbsp;&nbsp; I believe the journalist
and photographer he describes to be Chris Tomlinson and John Moore,
respectively, and he is correct that they work for the AP news
service.</i></b>
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